Newport-Gwent Dragons 14 - 14 Glasgow Warriors: Glasgow take a point in the Dragons’ den

GLASGOW were denied their place in the record books by the last kick of the game as a match which had meandered aimlessly most of the way through burst into life in the final fifteen minutes.

The Scots were going for a record breaking run of six league victories in a row in one season. They were seconds away from achieving just that, thanks to a fairytale entrance by replacement outside half Scott Wight.

Just as it looked as though 14-man Glasgow would slip to a disappointing defeat after their five successive Rabo Direct victories, Wight kicked forward over the line and then pounced for the try while defender Lewis Evans waited in vain for the ball to go out of play.

He hit the post with the conversion from touch to keep the home side within three points and a penalty by Jason Tovey, with the last kick of the game, was enough to bring the scores level.

Still six unbeaten for Glasgow, which equals a club record, was not a bad result given the way coach Sean Lineen had made changes in the line-up to keep players fresh for a busy month ahead.

The last few minutes veered both ways with Glasgow leading 9-3 and with the wind behind them as the seconds ticked away. The Dragons then scored a good try, replacement Rob Harley was sin-binned and it seemed as though the home side were gaining control when home wing Adam Hughes went over the line for what looked like a try.

The decision went to the television official who decided there had been a double movement and awarded the penalty to Glasgow. They went upfield, Wight got his try and the pendulum had swung for the penultimate time.

Although Glasgow had made plenty of changes with more important challenges ahead, the Heineken Cup and with the double header against Edinburgh looming, they tried to maintain continuity on the pitch.

That ball-in-hand style brought an early reward with a penalty for the returning Ruaridh Jackson from 40 metres.

There were a few early signs that Jackson was rusty after going off against England in the World Cup, but he will also be aware of just how well Duncan Weir has been kicking in his absence and what it will take to regain the first choice number 10 jersey.

The penalty crept over the bar, but it was enough to put Glasgow on the scoreboard early on. The Dragons came back but the normally reliable goal-kicking of outside half Steffan Jones went astray as he had a drop goal charged down and then pulled a short range penalty wide.

Both sides were attempting to play an off-loading game, but there is a fine line between positive adventure and foolhardiness and all too often they erred towards the latter.

Johnnie Beattie was trying to make an impression for the visitors to mark his 100th game for Glasgow and also a return to first team action and he was certainly part of a physical forward effort. Jackson and Jones both missed penalties from around the 40 metre mark, kicks you would have expected both to land, as they went in at half-time with the score a slightly uninspiring 0-3 to Glasgow .

That spirit of misplaced adventure allowed Glasgow to double their lead early in the second half, full back Martyn Thomas running the ball back out of defence only for an excellent tackle by centre Troy Nathan to bring a penalty for holding on. This time Jackson made no mistake from 35 metres.

Thomas was not put off though, his next effort at running from deep was far more effective and 50 metres upfield his efforts, along with wing Adam Hughes, brought a penalty.

Maybe Jones saw his replacement Jason Tovey on the sideline with his tracksuit off ready to come on, whatever the reason the No 10 landed his first kick of the afternoon.

Tovey did come on shortly after that, but for injured South African wing Tonderai Chavhanga – the player who was once dubbed the fastest man in world rugby.

Tovey took over the kicking duties and landed his first penalty to bring the scores close, but a crucial period of the match followed a bit of bad luck for Glasgow .

Jackson kicked the ball from his own 22, it took a hard bounce and raced over the Dragons dead ball line.

The Dragons set up a ruck from the scrum, replacement Rob Harley gave away a penalty which was quickly taken by scrum half Wayne Evans before the ball went wide for centre Tom Riley to go over in the corner.

A dramatic finish and a satisfying draw for a much-changed Glasgow side with more positives than negatives.

Scorers: Newport Gwent Dragons: Try – Riley. Pens – S Jones, Tovey (2). Glasgow : Try – Wight. Pens – Jackson (3).

Newport-Gwent Dragons: PM Thomas; T Chavhanga, T Riley, A Smith (c), A Hughes; S Jones, W Evans; N Williams, S Jones, N Buck, A Jones, S Morgan, L Evans, G Thomas, T Brown. Subs: L Burns for S Jones 59, P Price for Williams 59, K Jenkins, D Waters, J Groves, J Bedford, J Tovey for Stavhanga 50, A Tuilagi for S Jones 72.

Glasgow: NP Murchie; D Lemi, R Dewey (c), T Nathan, C Shaw; R Jackson, H Pyrgos; J Welsh, D Hall, E Kalman, T Ryder, R Verbakel, C Forrester, C Fusaro, J Beattie. Subs: F Gillies for Hall 64, M Low for Kalman 52, G Reid for Welch 68, R Harley for Forrester 52, S Wight for Jackson 69, R Wilson for 64, A Dunbar for Dewey 70, M McConnell for Pyrgos 69.